Glossary of Wind Energy Terminology

Direct Drive (DD) Technology
Direct drive is a smart, straightforward wind turbine design that eliminates the need for gearboxes. With fewer moving parts, DD technology can reduce maintenance costs and provide higher wind turbine availability. However, DD machines are typically heavier and more costly to manufacture than geared wind turbines.

Double Fed Induction Generator (DF or DFIG)
A double fed induction generator features a multiphase wound rotor and a multiphase slip ring assembly with brushes for access to the rotor. Recently, DFIGs without brushes have been developed. Introduced more than a decade ago, double fed induction has become a widely used wind turbine technology. Thousands of commissioned DFIG wind turbines are online today.

Full Conversion (FC) Drive Train
In a full conversion drive train, the generator is not connected to the grid. As a result, the frequency and voltage at which the generator operates is independent of the constant voltage / constant frequency of the grid. This decoupled design offers several advantages:

•  The turbine can operate effectively at variable speeds.
•  The gearbox is protected.
•  It is more efficient than DF generators.
•  It is a redundant system that provides protection in case one converter fails.

SuperGEAR™ (SG) Drive Train Technology
AMSC Windtec’s latest patented technology, SuperGEAR connects the wind turbine’s generator directly to the utility grid. No converter or transformer is required. SuperGEAR enables smaller and lighter nacelles with higher and more stable efficiency that results in greater reliability. These characteristics are crucial for offshore wind installations. SuperGEAR turbines provide the best possible power quality available on the global market.

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